Goble had not responded as of Thursday, one day after the village sent a letter giving him a week to accept the offer.

Absent a response, the village wants to have a retest open to applicants outside the Monticello police force, LiGreci said.

"If Bill takes it, I will honor that," he said. "If he doesn't, after seven days I will ask for an open test."

State Civil Service law allows for an open test if, within 60 days of the test, the village has not hired from among the three internal candidates who passed the exam, LiGreci said.

Goble was one of three current officers who passed the test in April, joining acting police Chief Mark Johnstone and Sgt. Dan Oldfield.

The village bypassed the higher-ranking Johnstone, choosing Goble to replace Solomon.

Goble and his attorney were sent the formal offer last week but had not responded as of Tuesday, LiGreci said. He also said he saw Goble on Saturday and told him the village needed an answer.

"Our attorneys went back and forth to come up with a contract that he could live with, that we could live with," LiGreci said.

Police Benevolent Association President John Riegler criticized the village's handling of its search for a new chief. In particular, he questioned why the village waited until just before the 60 days expired to formally send a contract.

"Whoever's steering the shop ain't steering it right," he said. "This is not surprising that time has expired and that people are not getting put in the right places."